Hamas dissolves Gaza governing body, paving way for Technocratic Committee

Hamas has announced the dissolution of the body that has governed the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades, clearing the way for a technocratic committee to implement civilian rule in a significant political shift.

Hamas has announced the dissolution of the body that has governed the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades, clearing the way for a technocratic committee to implement civilian rule in a significant political shift. The move marks a major step in the group’s efforts to transition away from day-to-day governance, though the issue of its disarmament remains unresolved.

“The head of the government’s emergency committee Mohammed al-Farra has officially submitted his resignation,” Ismail al-Thawabta, head of Hamas’ government media office, told AFP. “He has also decided to dissolve the committee to facilitate the administrative and governmental transition to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).” The NCAG was created under a 20-point peace plan brokered by US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said the group has taken “a new step in that it will no longer be in charge of the Gaza Strip, in order to remove any pretexts for the occupation, which continues its aggression and war of extermination.” He expressed hope for the swift entry of the NCAG and affirmed Hamas’s readiness to hand over governmental responsibilities to the committee to ensure its success.

A Hamas official told AFP that the group had already informed other Palestinian factions about its decision at a recent meeting in Cairo, where the factions welcomed the move as “a serious step towards enabling the National Committee to take up its governing role.” The NCAG, headed by Palestinian technocrat Ali Shaath, is now poised to assume administrative responsibilities in Gaza, provided resources are made available.

The dissolution of the Hamas governing body comes as negotiations over the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire continue, with the question of post-war governance remaining a key sticking point. Israel has rejected any return of Hamas to power and has expanded its military presence in the territory, controlling over 80 per cent of Gaza as of July 2. Hamas, meanwhile, has demanded the establishment of a Palestinian administration before considering disarmament. The move is seen by diplomats as a step to demonstrate Hamas’s commitment to the peace process while putting pressure on Israel to follow through on its commitments.